The Peril and the Preservation of the Home Being the William L. Bull Lectures for the Year 1903

"The Peril and the Preservation of the Home" by Jacob A. Riis is a collection of speeches, delivered in the early 1900s, underlining the significance of the American home and pleading for its safety during a time of rapid urbanization and social change. Riis talks about the dangers of ignoring the importance of home life, linking it to moral decay, the wellbeing of the country, and the character of its people. The story starts with the fact that housing and home conditions have been ignored, especially in big cities. He considers the effects, like a rise in crime and moral decline, both connected to the deterioration of family life. Riis believes that the answer is to bring back the holiness and usefulness of the home, which he feels is an important part of teaching good citizenship and fixing society's problems. He uses his own life experiences, creating a clear view of what families in tenements go through and advocating for an urgent need for change and faith in a grander cause.